Windows 10 should provide better experience

1of2Joe Belfiore, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Operating Systems Group, demonstrates Continuum for phones at the Microsoft Build conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. While Microsoft has already previewed some aspects of the new Windows 10, a parade of top executives will use the conference to demonstrate more software features and app-building tools, with an emphasis on mobile devices as well as PCs. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

2of2Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks about Windows at the annual Microsoft Build conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. While Microsoft has already previewed some aspects of the new Windows 10, a parade of top executives will use the conference to demonstrate more software features and app-building tools, with an emphasis on mobile devices as well as PCs. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

For anyone who missed the Business News Roundup in The Chronicle on Tuesday, Microsoft has set July 29 for the release of Windows 10, the latest version of an operating system that, like “The Phantom of the Opera,” has been running forever but doesn’t seem to get much better over time.

Windows 10 will replace Windows 8, which muddled its way through a three-year stint (including the 8.1 update) that left users pining for Windows 7. That version came after Windows Vista, a dud if ever there was one. Windows Vista replaced XP, which may have been the best of the bunch.

Before that, there was Windows ME, Windows 98 and Windows 95, the first Windows that looked anything like today’s version. It’s like a digital rendition of “Eight Is Enough.”

At least Windows 10 should provide a better user experience than Windows 8, whose design made it look like a mobile phone operating system installed on a computer. Windows 10 brings back much of what made Windows 7 and XP more user friendly,

The biggest difference between Windows 10 and its predecessors, however, is that users of Windows 7 and 8.1 can have it for free. In addition, Microsoft is making it super easy to get Windows 10. In fact, there probably is a tiny Windows icon right now at the right side of your Windows taskbar that will let you reserve a copy of Windows 10, which will be downloaded automatically to your PC on (or soon after) the release date.

Is Windows 10 worth taking a chance on, even for free? I’d say Windows 8.1 users should jump at the upgrade, which can’t possibly be worse than what they have now. But Windows 7 users might want to wait for the reviews of Windows 10 before dumping a tried-and true operating system.

Q: Our 9-year-old son has been asking for a smartphone. Many of his friends have them, and we’re not averse to getting him one, but we’d like to protect him from cyberbullying, online predators, porn sites, etc. We also wouldn’t want him to be able to purchase apps or online services without our knowing it. What do you think?

A: Assuming your son is an average kid, he’s in a developmental period where he’s started thinking logically about everyday events (although he’s not ready for abstract thinking yet). That means he should be able to use a smartphone to make and receive phone calls and texts, surf the Internet and download games.

Some say that early use of smartphones and computers gives kids a head start in a world where knowledge of advanced technology is going to be crucial to success in almost any career. That last part may be true, but this isn’t like playing the violin. You don’t have to learn how to use a smartphone as a young child to be a good computer engineer as an adult. Besides, technology is evolving so rapidly that today’s critical knowledge about computers, mobile devices, etc., will be tomorrow’s quaint history.

If you feel that your son can benefit from a smartphone without letting it take over his life, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have one. And you can put your mind at rest with parental controls. New iPhones let you configure all sorts of restrictions on how the phone can be used. Smartphones running Android 5 have basic parental controls, which can be supplemented with parental control apps from the Google Play store.

Q: I’d like to be able to stream music in multiple rooms in my house (only in one room at a time). Should I get Bluetooth speakers, or would Wi-Fi speakers be better?

A: Bluetooth has emerged as the standard for wireless speakers, mostly because of its portability. You just stream music from your smartphone — either through your home network or wireless data connection — and play it anywhere on a portable Bluetooth speaker or earphones. The only catch is that the phone must be close to the speaker, since Bluetooth has a short range.

By comparison, Wi-Fi speakers aren’t portable — they need to be connected to a Wi-Fi signal. As with Bluetooth, you can use your phone as a remote control, and with multiple-speaker Wi-Fi systems, it’s easy to switch from one speaker to another in your home. You can even listen to Taylor Swift through all your speakers at the same time. Yuck.

The biggest drawback of home Wi-Fi systems is their cost. If you don’t mind operating each speaker separately, Bluetooth is probably less expensive.

David Einstein is a freelance writer specializing in business and technology. He was a San Francisco Chronicle business reporter from 1989 to 1999 and has written a weekly consumer technology column for the paper since 1997. He also has held writing and editing positions with the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times and Forbes.com.